Lords And Ladies (2.12)

Despina

“Hmmm,” says Despina, staring into her crystal ball.

“What is it, fortune teller?  What do you see?” says the man, knowingly.

“I see...I see...I definitely see something...The spirits are telling me something important.  Something shocking.”

“Oh, indeed?  We are interested.”

“They are saying...They are saying...” she looks up at him, slowly, mouth slack with shock and surprise.  “That they have a pay wall.”

The man watched her, patiently.    “...What?”

“Yes,” says Despina, nodding sagely.  “They require a small payment before we can continue onto the man’s fortune.”  Despina pauses, and then looks down.  “Though it’s really not so much a fortune as it like watching a recording?  I think this might be this morning.  The spirits just aren’t with it today, I guess.  But if you find the information useful, we would appreciate a small donation of, oh, say, twenty bucks.  Or there’s the Gold plan.”

“The.  Gold.  Plan?”

“Yes, yes.  For just fifty Dragon dollars you get a months worth of fortunes, preferred customer service, and a chance to win a bonus vacation when you reach the afterlife.”

“...We believe we will just stick with Silver,” says the man, unfolding his palm to reveal a crisp twenty dollar bill.

“Oh, right, thank you sir.  Now, the Dragon man’s mor-I mean, fortune...”

***

Lord Durante Ilucis

Dante’s eyes fling open.  He sits up in bed, looking around at his room.  It is nearly pitch black, the only light coming from the faint green glow of the numbers on his alarm clock.  Three-twelve AM.  The sun wasn’t even coming up yet.

Dante pats the pale form next to him on the bed, just to confirm that she’s still there. Captain shifts and curls up under the bed sheets, scooting over to him and curling up against his form with a soft little sigh.

“What time is it?” she murmurs, tilting her head up to look at him, strawberry blonde fanned out in every direction.

“About two hours too early, love.”

Isabella yawns, then slides her arms around his chest, kissing his side, then his shoulder, his neck, his lips.  She rests her head in the nook of his arm.

“Are you alright?  Did you have a nightmare again?” she asks.

“No, I’m okay.”

“Was it the falling one, again?”

“Nothing new.   Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m going to worry about it.  Remember when you had those really bad night terrors when I was eleven and you and Meb were thirteen, and you got all moody and cranky?”

“Kind of.”

“Don’t tell me not to be worried.”

Dante sighs, but nuzzles her forehead in silence.

“You thought you were psychic for a while,” she adds, eyes closed.

“...I remember.”

“You thought you were seeing the future for a while.”

“I remember.”

“Even though you were dreaming about historical events you’d just read about in school.”

“I remember.”

“Don’t do that again.”

They chuckle.  Time passes.

“I can’t sleep,” says Isabella.

“I can’t either.”

“I don’t feel like getting up though.”

“Neither do I.”

Some more time passes.

“...Want to...you know, mess around?”

“Yeah, sure,” says Dante, reaching for a box by the bed.

***

Dante and Isabella brush their teeth at the sink in his bathroom, presently disrobed.  They both spit at the same time, multicolored toothpaste and spit mixing together as it circles down the drain.

“Our timing is getting better,” says Dante, with a chuckle.  Isabella smiles a little, taking a makeup kit out of the drawer and placing it on the sink. She opens it, and slides it towards Dante.

He opens it up, taking out eyeliner.  “Thanks, Izzy,” he says, beginning to carefully apply it.

“No problem.  I am not looking forward to work today,” says Isabella, raising her arm and applying deodorant to her pits.

“Why’s that?”

“Lady Wolf handed down a special assignment.  I’m going to have to send my best squad and my worst to it until further notice.”

“Oh, geez.  That’s unfortunate.”

“Tell me about it.  I’m not looking forward to being down two squads.  Things are already tight.”  She sighs.  “Plus, the VIP they’re being assigned to is someone I may have insulted.”

“Oof.  That’s really unfortunate.”

“It’s not like I have to talk to them myself, but I thought for sure they were guilty of something and kind of dismissed them and I’m just entirely certain this will all go badly.  The older Captains aren’t going to let me here the end of it if they find out.  I could get in a lot of trouble.”

“We all have bad days,” says Dante, moving onto painting his nails, as Isabella brushes her hair back and ties it up.

“I suppose you’re right,” she replies, walking out of the bathroom to get dressed.  “Do need me to hand you anything?” she calls back.

“Uh, yeah, sure.  Some underwear would be nice.”

“Which kind?”

“Uh...” says Dante, thinking for a moment as he touches up his lips with a natural looking color.  “Panties, I think.”

“What color?”

“The green ones, I think.  Oh, and the dragon earrings.”

“Do you want the, er, fake...?”

“Nah, not today.  Work day.”

“Oh, right.”

***

Dante and Isabella walk through the upstairs of his apartment, Dante clad in a black shirt and pants along with boots with slightly raised heels, Isabella in a black tanktop and navy blue uniform pants.

“Sure you can’t stay for breakfast?” asks Dante, waving at one of his robot daughters as they walk by one dusting a painting.

“Yes, sorry.  I really want to stay, but I should get to work early.Which one is that?” asks Isabella, quietly pointing at the robot.

“Bianca.  You can tell because of the metal plating.  I hadn’t quite figured out the skin yet, let alone some of the other features.”

“Oh, right.  I remember her.  She’s adorable, in a kind of...bald metal robot way.”

“She’s become quite fond of wigs.”

“I can imagine.”

Down the stairs they went, walking to the front hall.   Isabella opens a closet, taking out her police jacket and hat.  Putting them on, she turns to Dante.

“Have a good day, Izzy,” says Dante, hugging her tightly.

“Give me a call after work? If you're not too busy with one of the other girls...” she asks, hopefully.

“I will, I promise.”  He kisses her.  It nearly lasts a full minute.  Then he opens the door and waves to her, watching her go with longing eyes.

He shuts the door.

“Ahem,” says an craggy voice.  Dante turns around, to see the familiar side of a well dressed elderly gentleman with a carefully trimmed beard.  “Good morning, Dante.”

“Good morning, Leo.  Where’s Damien...?”

“Still sleeping  My son was rather stubborn about avoiding rest up until I convinced him to lie down.  I am happy to report that he hardly seems to have been affected by his head injury, though it may be time to invest in another bodyguard with a thicker skull.”  Leo grins, a toothy, old grin.  “I see Isabella left already.  Try to flee my cooking, huh?”

“Eheheheh.  No, she just had to get to work.  I’m glad Damien is okay.  Is my sister up yet?”

“She hasn’t come downstairs yet, I’m afraid.  I did, however, just wasted a great deal of time perfecting bacon and eggs, and I would greatly appreciate it if someone sat down and ate it before it starts to rot.”

Dante chuckles, patting the old man’s shoulders.  “Yeah, yeah, I’m going, I’m going.”

***

Copy of the newspaper in one hand, coffee in the other, and a hearty breakfast in front of him, Dante sit at the apartment’s main dining table.  Through large glass windows covered with white blinds most if not all of the Dragon and Raven District’s are  visible, straight to the mighty, towering but ramshackle Wall itself and the ruined old world city beyond, filled with thugs who reportedly made Dante and Isabella’s’ fathers’ crew look gentle and loving.

The newspaper was largely humdrum today.  Minor human interest stories, some articles on the fashion of the Queen Herself, that sort of thing.  One article speculating on his own love life, which he avoided reading entirely.

A pair of olive hands suddenly cover his vision.

“Guess who,” says a voice.behind him, a voice he was more familiar with than any other.

“Damien,”lies Dante.

“Pfffff,” says the woman, his twin sister Carmin.  “Nice.”  She removes her hands from his face, plopping down in the chair next to him.  Quite frankly, the average person can’t tell them apart outside of the chest area, and with the...unfortunate passing away of the city’s previous royal twin fantasy years ago, they had become something of sex symbols to the city in their own right, at least among the Dragon and general noble population..

They are both simultaneously flattered, amused, confused and a little weirded out by this, both being of the opinion that they are complete and utter dorks on the inside.

 “Good morning, Dante.  Izzy gone already?”

“Mmhmm.”

“What’re your plans for the day?” says Carmin, beginning to eat as well.

“Well, first I have a meeting with our...extra occupant when she arrives, and after that I’m heading into work a bit late.  Not sure what I’m going to do between now and then, though.  I could head down to the bar and visit Meb, or see Tara before her morning performance down in the lounge.   Or I might call Mindy.”

“Ah, the ladies already.  Of course.”    Carmin grins.  “Did you and Izzy...?”

“Yes,” says Dante.

“And you used protection?”

“Of course I did, sister.”

Carmin reaches out and pets Dante’s head.  “Good brother.  Best brother.”  Dante rolls his eyes but smiles despite himself.

“What’re you up to?”

“Well,” says Carmin.  “No law office for me today.  so I’m probably just going to hang out here.  Or with you.  Not sure yet.”

Dante grins a little.  “No booty calls?  Awww.”

Carmin laughs, and shrugs.  “The day is young, brother.”  She winks.

“I’ll warn any smart folks I see ahead of time.  ‘Look out, my sister is coming and she wants to mindfuck you!  Literally!”

They both giggle like children, as Dante finishes up his food.

Who will Dante hang out with?  Meb, Tara, or Mindy?

Lords And Ladies (2.11)

Zoe tackles Rhoda to the ground, pinning her to the floor as she screams and kicks.

“You can’t touch me!  I am the princess’ handmaiden!”

“Don’t hurt her,” says Jenna, quickly.  “Just sit her down next to the princess.”

“Are you sure, ma’am?  That seems quite dangerous.”

“It’s true,” Annie says, as Zoe hoists the flailing handmaiden over her shoulder and carries her to the couch.  Annie pulls her legs to her, letting Zoe plot Rhoda down on the couch.

Rhoda’s head snaps around like a tornado, glowering at Kitty.  “You!  I should have known she would be here, cavorting with you.”

“You already did know,” says Kitty.  “I told you.”

Annie smiles at her friend/servant.  “It’ll be okay, Rhoda.  You’re here, I’m here, just relaaaaaaax.   Just sit back and think of the prince...”

“T-the prince?” says Rhoda, her voice increasing in pitch.

“Just imagine him,” continues Annie, in a soft, calm tone.  “Giving you a deep, relaxing, sensual massage.”

Rhoda taps her fingers together nervously.  “B-but that would be wrong.  He outranks me.  H-he’s royalty.”

“Yesssss,” says Annie.  “That’s what makes it so delicious.”  Annie cocks a devilish grin at Rhoda.  “Now close your eyes and think about it.”

Rhoda obediently shuts her eyes and sighs deeply.  A distant smile crosses her face.

Outside of the corner of her eye, Kitty notices that Jenna has taken another sip of her whiskey bottle.

“There you go,” says Annie, cheerfully.  “She wants my brother to do things to her,” she helpfully explains to the room.

“Riiiiight,” says Jenna, taking another sip.

The phone on the coffee table rings.  Annie picks it up, handing it to Kitty.

“Hello?”

“Phone call for you,” says Anastasia’s voice, in a gentle, almost purring tone.  “Lord Durante’ Ilucis, I believe.  He says it’s important.”

“Transfer him, I guess.”

Dante’s voice is even more hurried than last time.  “Kitty, I think you’re life is in danger.”

Kitty sighs, and rubs her forehead.  “I know.”

“You know?”

“Someone tried to kill me.”

“What!”

“I’m fine.  It’s been a busy day.”

“How can you be-Okay, well.  There’s another...I got a package in the mail.  The note says...It’s the Zoinomicon.”

Kitty’s eyes widen, her mouth drops.  Her heart pounds.  “Are you sure?”

“Yes.  Well, that’s what the note says, only...”

“Only?”

“Only...Kitty, what size are grimoires, usually?”

“I don’t know.  I guess the size of any other manual, just...uh.  Magic.  Or eldritch.”

“So they wouldn’t normally have to be shipped in giant crates?”

“...No, Dante, I would assume not.”

“Okay, well, I...I think...I think this might be a big book.  I need you to come over and check it out.”

“I can’t, Dante.  I’m under armed protection.”

“...Right.  Okay.  Hmm....I’ll see what I can do to get it over there, then.  Probably safer.  I’ll call my people, maybe...Oh, have you had lunch?”

“Um, no?”

“We’ll bring lunch.  We haven’t had it either.”

“...Ahuh?”

“What do you guys want? Let’s work something out.”

“...Um, okay.  Hold on.”  Kitty put a hand over the phone.  “You guys hungry?  Anyone?”

***

Elsewhere...

The Wolf District looks strange, even net to the other Districts..  Tiger Island was a nation unto itself.  The Dragon District was the center of town, a decedent, gleaming beacon of light and sound on dark nights.   The Raven District was taken up partly by the towering Wall itself - the one thing separating the City from the ruins and the outside world - and small, simple buildings.  And the slums, an unofficial ruined section of the Dragon District that was incorporated into the city only because of convenience, were...Well.  Slums.

But the Wolf District dominated the well-defended peninsula, stretching out from the Dragon District to the beaches.  In between was a wide, green, luxurious land suitable for farming, as well as natural freshwater.  The Wolf District - safely hidden behind the city itself - produced almost all of the city’s food supplies (the remainder being produced on Tiger Island).  It was, in a way, the city’s little secret; an extensive little Paradise hidden from the rest of the ruins and protected on all sides by the Shark Fleet (also known as the Shark District or the Floating City).

The people of the Wolf District itself were varied in ethnicity, tracing their pre-Titania ancestry from the Americas and the Middle East.  As with the rest of the tribes, there was a sizable Asian population as well, but the Wolf District was especially notable for it’s high population of Native Americans.  Of special note was Matriarch’s Wolf family themselves.

The Wolves valued both privacy and law.  As such, Lady Wolf did double duty as the commander-in-chief of the police force, giving her a rather tumultuous relationship with Lady Dragon, who was unofficially commander-in-chief of organized crime by sheer virtue of being Lady Dragon.

There will be a test on this later.  Of note right now, however, is a little ranch house by a dirty road.

It was a small, unassuming little place, well-maintained but old.  Corporal Lincoln had bought it after his promotion, on the cheap, and spent most of his free time fixing it up, with a few small alterations to house a pet eagle.

Lincoln has just finished packing for the most part, with an eagle sitting on his shoulder.  The last luggage has been shoved in the back of the squad van (which, of course, doubled as Lincoln’s van).  Lincoln stood by it with his eagle on his arm.

“‘Bout time to get our cat friend, Washington,” says Lincoln, as the eagle cocks its head to the side and stares at him.  “I know, I know.  But I wouldn’t feel right otherwise.  It’ll be fine, you’ll see.   Probably.”

Lincoln walks over to the side of the porch, sand crunching underneath his boots.  He kneels down, peering into the darkness.

“Miu?”  he calls out gently.  “Are you there?  Miu?  Kitty kitty.”

Two amber eyes peer out at him, blinking.  The eyes turn away from him, and he hears a sickening crunch.  The eyes look back.

“Sorry if I interrupted your hunting, little miss.  I’m going to...go away for a little while, for my job.  I don’t want to leave you here alone, so I thought I’d...Well...I’d be mighty obliged if you wanted to come with me.”

The amber eyes blink, regarding him carefully.

“‘Course it’s fine if you don’t want to.  I’m sure there’s plenty of rats and snakes around, and you’ll probably wander off somewhere anyway.  And there’ll be people.  I don’t know if that’s a factor, little miss.”  Lincoln tips his hat.

The amber eyes look away for a few moments, before approaching him.

Something licks his nose.

“...I’ll get the bag, then,” says Lincoln.

Lords And Ladies (2.10)

Kitty considers the possibilities.

Assistants?   God, no, not the assistants.  Anything but  assistants!  It’s my Library!  It’s mine!  Miiiiiiiine!  I can do this job all by myself!

...Though it is a pretty big Library.

No! No, I can do it.  I’m competent.  I’m a good girl who is in no way emotionally stunted by losing my mother and spending her teenage years shut inside a Library.  Mom will come back if you’re a good girl.  She will!

...Isn’t that kind of absurd?  She’s not going to know if you’re a good girl.  It has no bearing on whether or not she’ll come back.  She told you to be a good girl, she didn’t say if she would come back if you were.

But what if she does?

She won’t.

...On the other hand, I’m the boss of these people, right?  I can make them do whatever I want!  I’m the boss!  I’m a lordy!

Lady.  You’re a Lady.

Oh, right, thank you.  Almost had a stupid moment there.

You’re welcome.  Continue.

I’m the Lady!  I’m the Librarian!  Master of stories and biographies and informative text books!  Knowledge is my wizard...y domain, and these are my pupils!  I have the power!   I could make them strip or something!   Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha-

No, no, that’s bad.  SIgh.  All right.  Training.  I should train them.

“So,” says Kitty.  “How many of you know about the Dewey Decimal System?”

They all stare at her, blinking.

“...Anyone?”

No one raises their hand.  No one exclaims “I do!” excitedly.  They just stand there.

“Really?  Not even the middle aged women.”

She coughs.

“Well, I had my own system...” she begins.

“Don’t care.  We used Dewey here.”   Kitty reaches under her desk and pulls out a thick book, standing up.  “Come with me.”

***

“Every book has a number,” says Kitty.  “And that number indicates it’s place in the Library, according to class, division, and section.   They are classified in ascending numerical order and further by alphabetical order according to the first letter of the author’s last name when multiple books fit within the same number - and they do.  All the time.  Each section of the Library’s extensive floor space holds a different class.  For example, we are presently standing in Class 100, which broadly covers Philosophy and Psychology.  Right?  Got it?”

She turns around, still holding the book.  The girls nod at her.  “Good.  The first floor of the Library holds Classes 000, 100, 200, 300, and 400. Computer Science, Information, And General Works; the aforementioned Philosophy and Psychology; Religion, which apparently includes evil Grimoires, so be aware of that; Social Sciences; and Language.  Right?  Now up the stairs.”  She heads up a set of stairs in the corner of Class 100, up into Class 600.  It looks nearly identical to the first floor, bookshelves stretching on into infinity.  Kitty does not bother to look back to make sure they’re following her.  She just continues walking and talking.   “Second floor.  Classes 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900.  Science; Technology; Arts and Recreation; Literature; and finally, History and Geography.

“The space for each Class of the Library includes a number of rooms around the outer wall.  Study rooms, bathrooms, water fountains, that sort of thing.  Some of them have lovely views of the outside, so keep that in mind when you’re on break.  This book I’m holding contains all the information you’re going to need about the Decimal System as well, and there’s also maps of the Library hanging on walls here and there, as well as one at the entrance.  Both this and the entrance map are to remain at the front desk at all times.”  Kitty turns back around.  “Any questi-”  Kitty notices a curious gap between Anastasia and Evangeline White.  She sighs.  “Where did Nicolette go?  Is she lost?”  She turns to Jenna.  “I think she got lost.”

Jenna unclips the walkie talkie from her belt.  “Library Guard, this is Crescel, be advised.  Assistant Nicolette is lost somewhere in the Library, around Class 100 or 600.  Keep an eye out.”

“Right,” says Kitty.  “Let’s keep moving...The fiction section is sorted a little differently, mostly because we keep the erotica in a side room.  Do not, I repeat, do not put the erotica with the rest of the books.  It freaks people out, for some reason,”

Jenna laughs nervously.

“Now, as you go around this place, you might find some boarded up side rooms.  Please tell me when you find them, so we can decide what to do with it.  If you run into any books that seem to be supernatural in some way, please tell us that as, um, well.  Any mundane books you happen to find out of place, put them back in their place.  Now, the third floor...”

She leads them up another flight of stairs.  It is quite different, less a forest of bookshelves and more a forest of hallways.  It is also, surprisingly, quite dark.  Kitty flips on a switch, illuminating old, musty hallways.  “This used to, I think, be where the family lived in happier generations.  You may pick any room you would like to stay in, if you wish to live at the Library.”

“And if you don’t,” adds Jenna.  “Please remember that curfew begins at ten.  No one goes in or out after that without special permission.”

“My younger sister and I live on the floor above this, which is a bit smaller than the other floors, but still mostly unused.   There’s a kitchen and living room on this floor as well...”

***

Lincoln and Richard stand in the Librarian’s living room, watching as Officer Lee ascended the ladder to the skylight.  He pushes it open, sticking his head out.

“Holy shit,” says Lee.

“How does it look, Lee?” asks Richard.

“It’s a godsdamn field up here.  We’re lucky the Library is practically beachfront property, we’d need like...twelve of me to cover each end of this mess.  Maybe more.   Even with two sides I don’t think I’m going to be able to cover it all.” Lee glances down.  “I’m going to get started scoping it out.”

:”Good luck.”

Lee scrambles out onto the roof, leaving Lincoln and Richard.

“We should get to our posts,” says Richard.

“In a moment.  I want to finish this last sweep.  Something ain’t right about this place, and I’ll be damned if I let it escape my notice.”  He put his hands on his belt buckle, looking around at the doors nearby.  Richard, impatient, picks one, pushing it open and peering inside.

“Clear.  This just seems to be another empty room.  Bit of a balcony view.”

Something upstairs creaks.  Lincoln looks up.

“...What’s that?” asks Richard.  “Is it the little sister?”

“Gonna check it out,” says Lincoln, walking up the stairs with a weapon in hand.

“...Not even a response, huh?  Just going to head on up there?” asks Richard.  Lincoln keeps walking.  He sighs, pulls out his pistol, and follows.

A door at the end of the small hallway is unlocked.  Lincoln presses against the wall next to it, trying to peer into the crack as Richard leans against the other wall.

“It’s dark,” whispers Lincoln.  “Ready?  We go on three, two, one...”

Lincoln kicks the door open, and Richard moves in, training his gun on the darkness.  Lincoln follows his lead and hits the light switch.

“You’re not Kitty,” says the woman on the bed, wearing far less clothes than they would have liked.

Richard and Lincoln turn away.

“...Is that the princess?” asks Lincoln.

Richard glances back.  The princess waves.

“Yep.”

“Just checkin’.”

“This seems a bit scandalous.”

“Is it?  You’re the noble.  This is your area of expertise.”

“The Tigers and Sharks have a longstanding animosity towards each other.  Someone shot someone else or something.  Of course, the Sharks and Dragons have always been staunch allies, so the Tigers don’t get along too well with the Dragons either.  The Tigers do get along with the Ravens, on account of both getting shafted politically.  Our tribe on the other hand is neutral.”

“...So the princess sleeping with a Tiger would be bad?”

“It’d be politically complicated, sure.  Accusations of one of them being forced into it, violent arguments about succession lines...”

“We should probably not let the world know, then.”

“Probably not, no.”

“Great.”

***

A few panicked walkie-talkie conversations and a round-up later, Kitty and a now-pink-nightgown-clad Annie are sitting on the couch. Annie sits across Kitty’s lap, laying against the armrest.  She is presently cheerfully painting her finger and toenails.

Kitty, on the other hand, looks like a sad child who was just caught in the middle of sticking her hands into the cookie jar.

Officer Crescel presently holds her pals over her face, staring at the ground in thought, her strange cyborg tail wrapped around her waist.  The rest of the squad, sans the presently roofbound Lee, stands around her.

“Okay, uh...So you two are...?” asks Jenna.

“Yep!” says Annie, enthusiastically, still not looking at her.

“Okay, uh...Look.  Curfew is at ten o’clock in the evening, so...I’m sorry, but you’re going to need to-”

“I’ll stay here,” she says, flatly.

“...But-”

“Mother knows where I am.”

“She knows?”

Annie doesn’t answer.  She just continues turning her thumbnail pinker.

“...Right, uh, okay then.  Listen, I appreciate that you’re...romantically involved,” Jenna says.  “But there’s some rules you’re going to have to follow.  Try to keep all displays of affection out of sight of the public, all right?  And, um, any extreme displays of affection out of my sight.  I...have a problem,” she adds, quietly pulling a small bottle of whiskey out of a pocket, unscrewing the top, sipping it, and putting it away.

“Um, okay,” says Kitty.

Jenna turns around to the rest of the squad.  “What else?  Have we found Nicolette?  Or Lady Yu?”

“Not yet, ma’am,” says Zoe.

“Okay...We still need to get furniture and supplies, and stuff from our own homes.  Assistants Evangeline and Anastasia are presently manning the front desk, so we’ll keep the Librarian and the princess up here for now.  The rest of us will go home in shifts.  When the night watch arrives and takes over we’ll put together a list of what supplies we’re going to need to purchase.  Lincoln, you go first.  I understand you have pets at home?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jenna turns to Kitty.  “Are you fine with pets?”

“Er...Yes, as long as they’re well-trained and don’t ruin the books.”

“They won’t, ma’am,” says Lincoln, flatly.  “Only I’m not sure the cat will want to come.”

“Cat?” says Kitty, brightening up considerably.  “There’s a cat?  I love cats.”

“She’s not really my cat, either,” continues Lincoln, cautiously.  “She’s really more of a stray who frequently visits my house.  Not sure where she came from, really...”

“That’s so cute,” says Kitty.  “Isn’t that cute, Annie?”

“Very cute!”

“Awwwww.”

“Lincoln,” says Jenna.  “Bring the cat, all right?  You live out in that field all alone, that cat’s going to be lonely otherwise.  And it’s not like we have any other ”

“I suppose you’re right...” says Lincoln, uncertainly.

“Well?” says Jenna.  “Go on, get going.  We don’t have all day.”

Lincoln stands still for a moment, nods, and tips his hat before heading out of the room.

Jenna turns back to the princess and Librarian. “All right, is there anything else important we need to cover right n-”

Someone kicks the door open.  Rhoda storms in.

“WHERE.  IS.  THE PRINCESS?”  she shouts at the top of her voice.